The lights lit up Cesar’s face and Arvid had to fight the urge to reach out to him. His dark curls shone.

God he’s perfect.

“You know what,” Arvid said without thinking. “We should write a Christmas song. Then you can sing it. Boom, retirement plan sorted.”

Cesar frowned. “I’m only just starting out. Why would I want to retire?”

They had less than ten years separating them yet their whole outlook on life couldn’t have been more different. Cesar was still ready to go into battle whereas Arvid had fought in that war and had no intention of visiting the frontline again.

“You’re right,” he said, more disappointed than he expected. “It was a silly idea.”

Cesar walked away a few steps then turned. “Having said that, it might be a perfect way to get noticed.”

Arvid’s heart danced. “It might. You’d have to take it to America to release. If you’re on a tourist visa.”

Cesar shook his head. “We got all that sorted out. Even though we haven’t got any bookings just yet, the band managed to get working visas.”

Arvid thought it best not to ask how. At the end of the day, Cesar was well over eighteen. “Excellent,” he said.

Cesar bounded toward him. “Imagine if we did it. I can see it now. The biggest Christmas hit in years.”

It did have a nice ring to it. Arvid had been part of some decent-sized hits in the last couple of decades. The vindication of a song that people remembered eluded him. He wanted it with a ferocity. That wasn’t the only thing he wanted. Cesar stood close enough now that their breaths, smoky in the cold air, mingled.

It would be so easy to lean forward and claim those full lips. Something Arvid had been thinking about since Cesar had knocked on his door. Well, earlier than that, to be brutally honest.

However, it appeared that they might be working together. Arvid had been called a lot of things over the years, but unprofessional was not one of them. Regardless of whether this new band took off or not, Cesar needed his help. It would be totally unethical and against everything Arvid stood for if they ended up in bed.

He took a step away, trying his best to ignore the confusion that flashed across Cesar’s face.

“I’m spending most of my day on this bloody album,” he said. “I finish around four. How about you swing by tomorrow and we can have a go at playing around with ideas.”

“Sure. Of course,” Cesar said. He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned away. “That’s very kind of you.”

“Hey,” Arvid said. “This is exciting. I reckon we can create something really good. If we try.”

Cesar smiled. “Okay, let’s try then.”